RPS issues statement on non-renewal of Christina Barton; former counselor files for schoolboard
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(ABC 6 News) – Rochester Public Schools (RPS) has issued a statement on the non-renewal of Christina Barton, a former district student counselor.
Last month, the Rochester Education Association stated that Barton was removed from the teacher’s union for speaking out against a school policy surrounding transgender and gender-expansive students who should be informed of their pronouns.
RPS says that claims surrounding Barton being non-renewed “for speaking out against the district’s transgender guidelines” are inaccurate, and that neither the district’s administration nor the school board made a statement about it.
It also states that the Rochester Education Association is a separate entity from RPS and does not speak or act on behalf of the district.
RPS has not commented further on the reasons for Barton’s non-renewal.
According to the MN Secretary of State’s website, Barton filed for Rochester schoolboard.
She is running against Stephanie Whitehorn in Ward 7.